Motor-car-transport train



Jan. 13 -1931: L. A. BECKER ET-AL moron CAR TRANSPORT TRAIN 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 24. 1928' IN VEN TOR-3.

3 o M d 01 llxlnllil Ill.

FIl-IIII ll.

Jan. 13, 1931. L. A. BECKER ETAL MOTOR-CAR TRANSPORT TRAIN Filed March 24, 1928 5 sheets-sheet 2 l N VEN TORJ' I? l a .8 EC KER.

M03731 Mun/s o/v.

ATTORNEYJ.

Jan. 13 1931. A. BECKk-IR ETAL' 8 3 MOTOR CAR TRANSPORT TRAIN I 11 I j/H/I NW/Ill! ATTORNEYJZ re-med 1a.; 3,1931 i Leanna. BEoK RAnn oinv-Mf uNson, om eewqes, am, AssIGNoRs 'ro ri oiyrhs nopA v, or-snAxnn rinierrrsgorno' f nom sm mmsr er r r gjApp licat ion filed -March -24, gi92s. ;;ser a1 n6: 3435s. g

' e The lea ame hagier its ea-ta] the provision of means for-transportation of motor vehicles, by which automobiles maybe transported-by railway cheaper @LIldl IIlOl x; 5 elficiently than is possible with present equip;

' unused i condition to the automobile dealer,, the employmentoflarge crews of drivers 1s eliminated and other advantages and bene- Q-;- fits are derived from the method oftransportation described herein,

. v The mechanism shown and described herehas many advantages over freight car methods of transportation 1n that the ap- {g paratus is] particularly designed for the transportation ofautomobiles and it is, therefore, economical and eficient, The appara tus comprises a pluralityof articulated units,

each of'which is designed for the mounting I p H have;journals 18-secured thereto, in .whi'ehjja the axlefor the wheels 21 is mounted Con necting the transverse members 15 are spaced ,f fl

of 'a single automobile the unit-s being coupled: together so that they; maybe easily uncoupled and stacked for reshipment to the factory; p p The invention will be described wlth'parthe accompanying draw1ngs,but it will be appreciatedthat modifications and improve-1 p rotategin-the platform,being secured "in ite I bearing-"by a'plate '27 fastened tothe under- 1 j i side of thetrunnion. The bracket;29;is also-4;

m'ents maybe made therein without departurejfrom the essential features'of the invention vor frornftheprinciples and scope thereof, as set forth in the c laiins.

In thedrawings, I Figure 1 is a side elevation ofa; portion "of atrain showing the apparatus as adapted electric interurban. transportation;

' Figure 3;

. 1 Figure 5 is a detailof the trainroundinga 7 curve and-moving in the opposite direction trom'the main figure;

v :50 Fig refi is asectionthrough a radius rod connectionflon the line 6;'6 of Figure 2; zand ticularreference to the embodiment shown in 7 e igure is a section on the line Figure Us a plan view-of the encl ;of -;t lie last an of :the train withadummy t-ruok atctached thereto.

j The train comprises at bars 5 which; together, with ,two parallel cros's'rails 6 and 7 at the forward endoilthe unit and asingle crossrrail T8 at the rear-of the-unit,constitute the rigid unit for thei io automobile 10. Totheupper surfaces of the r rails 5 are seeuredplatforms ll to which are fastened chock blocks 12 for the wheels of the automobile and; clamping members-1.45- to 7 F be attached to the platforms 11 and tea con om venient portion of the; autoniohil-e'to hol'dj'it 7 uponthe platform. Oneor'bo'th of the plat- Q Y forms are designed tobe adjustable alongthe side bars t'o'accommodate automobiles ofvaryingwheel bases; .v 7 f V Each nnitincludesas a permanent element, a truck consisting of'parallel, transverse inemp bers 15 connected by' side bars 16 whichrforrn a' rigidrectangular framework. The bars. 16

parallel rails24 to which is secureda plat;

:form 25 in which is located, at the center of I providedwith uprights 28 which are parallel I to the directionxof movement jofthe train" and which support a swinging cradle 22 upon pins, l -30 passing"throughathe arms-2&1Ingther- V cradle {is secured the kingpin 32 whichuis oo 1 1 located overgthe centerof the truckan'dlover .1 which is fitted ahead 33 carried on'the-end the dravvbar 3e ofthe next} adjacent unit; v a

r whereby'theforward end of the'said unitji 7 supported and carried by the truckrjof'the ea fprecedlng unit.

Each axle'carries I I at one sldeof the king pin-connection, the

' drum being engaged by two shoes 38, mounted on the ends of hell crank l evers 39 which 19o v w p series o funits, eachsss o of; WhlCh consists of two-parallel rails or-side a has am; s iiieidi 5 actuated by linl rage 40 from a diaphragm 42 suspended'froin the platform 25. The brakes are of any usual or pre'ierred type and are operated from a pressure line from the power unit. The designandconstruction of the secured by means of theclevis to the trans verse cross bar 8 of the unit. The rearwardly extending radius rods are attached to the draw bar 34 of the following unit by keying the clevis 50 to the draw bar so that it will slide thereon, but is prevented from rotatin -21: with respectto the draw bar.

The end'of each radius rod remote from the pivot 46 is forked as shown in Figure 6, pm passing through the fork and through a "shoe 5.6. This shoe is fianged'finwardly, and

, with alike shoe from the adjacent radius rod partially surrounds a sleeve 58 which isslidable along the axle 20. The shoes are confinedby a collarv 60 and by overhanging flanges 62 on the sleeve'and the eollar'whi'ch engage the-flanges on the shoes. The shoes only partially surround the sleeve so as to permit relative angular inovementof the pairs of radius rods induced by elevation or depression of a unit entering an up or down grade. g

The forward ends ofthe rails o are curved, as shown, and at the apex of eachunit is located a sleeve 6;) through which thedraw bar 3 1 is movable.

The rear end of the draw bar slides in bearings 64 attached to the cross members 6 and 7 and the draw bar exerts pull "through heavy coilsprings65 bearing against a collar '66 attached to the. draw bar midway between the members 6 and 7. Units may be disconnected by withdrawing the pin 46,

which is located over the draw bar, and by lifting the draw hair off the kingpin 32. p

In the embodiment of the invention as, shown'hereimthe train of articulated. units is propelled by attachn'ient to an electric car and. for this purpose it'may beadvisable to provide a dumm truck 7 2 which is con led to the car 70 many prefer-ed manner. The details of the dummy truck may be varied, it bemg necessary merely that the dummy truck be provided with a king pin for the reception of the draw bar from the first unit. It is also possible to connect the draw bar of the first unit directly to the car 70, without the provision of a dummy truck. i

In order to guide the last unitof the train 1 thereby direct the units train.

it is necessary-to provide a trailer 75, which has a bracket 7 6 thereon, in which the pivot pin 46 maybe received, this pin connecting the rear radius rods with the trailer. This attachment to the'train serves to guide the Q framework or truck on the last unit of the train. If desired the trailer may be a flat car on wh'ich the units are stacked for return shipment to. the original point of shipment. A

The operation of the train will be apparent from -the description which has been given. Each unit which com rises a framework and a truck is connecte to the follow-v the king pin and by insertion of the pin 46. In "rounding a curve, theradlus rods gradually, turn the trucks so that the curve is negz otiated without aocident.- The construction such that; the radiusrods become BEGCHVGQSE just prior to the time when each truck reaches the curve so that the turning movement is initiated before the curve is reached'a nd the reverse action istrue at the end of the curve.

ing unit by connection of the draw bar and In entering an up or'down grade, the angu-:;.9

iar movement of the units is taken care of by the movement of the shoes at the end of the radius rods and by rocking of the cradle 22 upon its pivots'lO. Twisting of the several units is taken care of by the rotation of eacha9 unit about the draw bar. A 'very flexible train is thus provided and allot the exigenciesbf operation over the usual roadbed are provided for. I

Vhen the consignment of automobiles is delivered the sever 1 units are disconnected and stacked upon" aflat car which, as described above, may be carried at the end of the They can then be economically returned to the point of origin. It will be understood 'tl while the inven- 'tion is particularly intended and adapted for V the transportation of automobiles,it may be used in the transportation of other commostruction beiiwadaptable for many purposes;

What is claimed is i t 1.:An articulated train for the uses and purposes setforth comprising a plurality of individual units, each unit embodying a framework, a truck pivotally mounted at one end of the framework, means to couple the units together in a train, with the framework of one unit supported by the truck of the next dities, the advantages and benefits of the conadjacent-unit. and means carried by one unit 7 to cause the pivotal moven'ient of the truck of the next adjacent unit.

2. An articulated train for the uses and purposes set forth comprising a plurality of individual units, each unit embodying a framework, truck pivot-ally mounted at one end of the framework.v means to couple the units together in a train. with the frame work 0150116 unit supported by the truck of thenext adjacentunit, and radius rodsconnectedto the end of eachunit and to the truck of the next adjacent unit to induce pivotal movement of the truck. 7

' 3. An articulated train-comprisingal plu+ rality of individual units, each unit consist ing of a framework, a trunnion secured to oneend of the-framework, a truck, pivoted on the trunnionya king pin carried byjthe' trunnion, a'. draw bar on the opposite'end,

of the unit, the draw. bar on each unit being receivable over the king pin of the next adjacent unit, and means actuated by the adjacent unit to induce rotation ,of the truck upon its trunnion. Z 4; An articulat'e'dtrain comprising a plurality ofindividrial units, each-I unit consisting-of a' framework, a-trunniongsecur'e'd to one end ofzthe'framework, a truckpivoted on the trunnion, 1a kingpin carried by the trunnion, a draw :bar onthe oppositeend of the unit, the draw bar on. each unit being receivable over the king pinof the nextadjacent unit, and means actuated by. the ad-I jacent unit toinducerotation of thetruck upon itstrunnlo'n, sald means comprising radius rods connected to the adjacent unit,

5. An articulated train comprising a plurality of individual units, each un t conslsting of a frame work, a trunn on secured to one endof the framework, atruck pivoted onth'e trunnion, a king pii'rcarried by the trunnion, a draw bar on the opposite end of the unit,,tl1e draw bar on each unit being unitubeing supported ataoneend by its-own truckand at the 1 opposite end by the truck I I of the next unit, anda' kingpin on each- V framework adapted to receive the draw bar j' of the next unit, each truck having radius receivable over the kingpin of the next adj acent unit, and means actuated by the adj a-s cent unit to induce rotation of the truckupon ltS, trunn1on, said means comprlslng palrs ofradiusrods, one pair being connected to the said unit and the other pair to'the adj a cent unit. 7 v I i 6. A unit of an articulated train comprising a framework, a pivoted" truck at one end of the frame work, and a-draw baronthe opposite end of the framework, the said unit being adapted to beiconnected to a similar unit to compose an articulated train, each rods to control the pivotal movement thereof, said radius rods being adapted to be connected .to the next unit.

7 A unit of an articulated"traincomprisjing'a framework, a trunnion at one end of adapted to rock in a horizontal axis, a king induce pivotal movement, of

the framework, atruck pivoted the trun-e nion, said'tru'ck havinga transverse wheel V axle, pairsof pivotallyconnected radius rods having, sliding-and rotary connection with; I i the wheel axle, and ghaving angular move ment with respect to one another, the pivots adjacent unit of. an articulated train when the uni'tsarecoupled; I I I i 9. A unit of an articulated train compris ing a framework, a trunnion atone end of the framework, a cradle on the framework pin on the cradle,- and -a truck pivotally mounted on-Jthe trunnion, and adapted to rock in :a ,vertical axi'sthereon. 1'0.A unit or an farticulated train com prising-a framework, a trunnion at one end 'of the framework; a cradle on the framework adapteid to rock in a horizontal axis, a

king pin on ithe cradle, a truck pivot'ally :mountedon the trunnion, and adapted to rock in a vertical axis thereon and adraw,v 9

bar at the otherend ofthe fra1nework,saiddraw. bar being receivable of the kingpin of the-next unit-and rotatable in the frame- WOI'k I r of one-pair of rods being connected to the o v 11." Anarticulated train comprising a plu rality of units, each 'unit consisting of a framework fand' a truck located'at one end of the; framework and pivoted thereon, the several units "being connected together by draw barsfmounted .in the ends thereof oppositethe'trucks, the units having pivotal movementwith respect toone anotherfin all; directions; i, I v '12. An articulated traincomprising a plu 'rality of units, each unitoconsisting of a framework and atruck pivoted at one end of the framework, the severalunits being con: I nectedtogetherby draw bars mountedin the V 1 I ends thereof opposite. the trucks, the units I having pivotal movement with respect to one another in all directions, and means to the, truck from.

the next. adjaoentunit.

{,J. UNsoN;

the'framework, a truck pivoted on-the trun- I nion, saidtruck-lhaving a transverse wheel axle, pairs of pivotal'ly connectedradius rods havings'liding 'andflrotary connection with thewheellaxle, the pivots Iof 'each pair ofrods- V I being connectedto one unit of an articulated a train when the units are: coupled.

"8, A unit of an articulated train compris ing afmmework, trunnion at one end of 

